What happened in Ontario? Follow along. It wasn’t about Ford. This was an electorally decisive group of Ontarians deciding they wanted fundamental change of govt direction. What happens when govt moves too far away from electorally viable public consensus.
Saying this was just about changing a tired govt that had run out of steam is also wrong. Lots of steam that moved it too far away from what Ontarians outside of 416 wanted. A fresh govt that continues down the same track would run into the same problem.
Why did Ford win? Because what they saw as his VALUES (as opposed to specific commitments) about economic focus, smaller govt, lower taxes, etc resonated with voters who felt ignored by a govt that didn’t get their lives.
Also a revolt by COMMUTERS. Fastest growing communities in Ontario are car commuting suburbs. They’ve had it with promises about transit options that never get built and being told they are bad for the world because they have to drive to work.
What happened in Ontario the future of Cdn politics. Parties that figure out how to win suburbs win elections. Suburbs are only voters that still move either left or right depending on how message fits their lives. Ford got it. Libs and NDP didn’t.
NDP learned big lesson in Ontario. Tacking to middle and allowing yourself to be out-flanked by Libs doesn’t work as well for attracting progressive coalition as going left. Creates very interesting showdown for progressive vote in next federal election.
